Letter From London October 2013

“In the business of fashion, Britain’s got talent. It also has the opportunity for serious growth” – The Times

That was the sentiment that resonated last month as British designers took to the catwalk and news of their success immersed the media to prove that once again, British fashion talent is unsurpassable.

We have just returned from Paris where LONDON show ROOMS celebrated its 5th anniversary, marking a milestone that has seen over 15,000 visitors and 5,500 orders placed in four different territories. LONDON show ROOMS has enabled many designers to make the transition from an emerging talent into a fully-fledged international business, so it seems fitting that we also celebrate major investments for two of Britain’s brightest stars: J.W. Anderson and Nicholas Kirkwood, who recently struck deals with luxury group LVMH. We congratulate both J.W. Anderson and Nicholas Kirkwood and wish them success in their new ventures.

Congratulations also to all of the British designers who showed in Paris and took part in trade shows and showrooms abroad last month. The strength of the collections and positive feedback from retailers will no doubt be reflected in the orders placed.

On the home front, Britain is bringing its own business opportunities for designers. We have launched a new menswear support initiative; The BFC/GQ Designer Menswear Fund supported by Vertu offers a prize valued at £200,000 comprising cash and high level business mentoring. Thank you to all those who make our designer support schemes possible. Never before has it been more important to ensure an ongoing legacy of successful international British designer businesses.